Hello Calgary !

Train. Sweat. Perform.

ARMY of SASS is a training and performance program for all levels, designed to build confidence and gain physical strength while developing sassy dance skills in heels.

There are 3 different 10-week sessions per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Every week you will train for 2 hours on drills and choreography. At the end of the session, you will showcase your new sassy moves in a themed performance with your fellow AOS dancers!

Your week just got a whole lot SASSIER!

This winter, join 2000+ dancers across North America as we train together to present our sassy take on the dark side of the circus: "Sideshow".

REGISTRATION DATES
• Spring 2019 session runs from March to June. Program & registration dates vary by location.
• Early bird registration for Spring Session opens on February 26.
• Regular registration for Spring Session opens on March 23.

$275+tax

Drop-in

$15 to 30

• Shows •

Army of Sass Calgary presents: 5 6 7 8!

Army of Sass Calgary presents 5 6 7 8!

Draw back the curtains, it’s time to start the show! Does our Broadway Baby have what it takes to make it on the big stage? Join us as we journey through the hits, from classic show tunes to modern favourites and covers. Don’t miss your big break!

Saturday, June 15
Marquee Beer Market and Stage
Doors open at 7:30pm
Show starts at 8:00pm
Tickets $20 in advance // $25 at the door
18+

• AOS Calgary Team •

Carla Catherwood

Commander-in-chief (CEO & Founder)

ARMY of SASS™

Carla CatherwoodCommander-in-chief (CEO & Founder)

Carla knows what it’s like to start from the bottom and work your way up.

Dedicated, focused and driven to detail best describe her work habits. With over 20 years professionally in the dance industry and over 10 years experience as a self-made entrepreneur, she has worked not only as a professional dancer, choreographer, and producer, but most importantly as an entrepreneur, teacher, and mentor to many developing up-and-comers.

Her mentoring and teaching style consists of clarifying and developing the direct abilities that are needed to become a successful performer, teacher, and AOS Licensee by educating them on function, technique, and leadership skills. She has a special talent in bringing out what is natural within each individual by pushing them into what she calls “The Pocket” of each movement, teaching method, or leadership goal.

Carla’s story: how it all started

It started with a twist of fate…

About 11 years ago I was out with some dance friends and a fellow teacher from LA in Vancouver. We were having a good time dancing the night away. Next thing you know… a shootout between two gangs erupted and there were some innocent victims caught in the crossfire. Luckily I was pushed out of the way and only grazed with a bullet (but don’t worry I’m ok! I was blessed enough that all I needed was a band aid on my wrist!) Unfortunately there were a few innocent victims… one of them being my friend from LA. I was blessed to have walked away pretty much unharmed considering what had happened. At that point I knew I needed to do something to help my friend.

Fast forward to one year after the incident, I joined forces with the pretty much the entire entertainment community of Vancouver to put together a fundraiser in honour our friend to help with his recovery process and costs. PS. he’s doing great now!

With it being the first show I had ever produced… and as a dancer and choreographer I naturally wanted to put together a piece of choreography for the show… but it needed to be DIFFERENT! Later that week I saw a cabaret burlesque-style dance troupe on TV and I said “YESSSSSS I’m going to do something like that!” I gathered 10 of my girls and we did a burlesque inspired piece for the fundraiser. Vancouver HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT! People went crazy! So I decided to keep doing it!

I created a dance crew called Burlesque Beauties with a few of my girls and had a ton of fun! We did everything from lounge gigs, to corporate events over the years and even performed at the infamous Playboy Mansion! As time went on I wanted to perform less and teach more so I coined the style “Nuvo-Burlesque” and started to teach the heel’s style to dancers of all levels.

The day before I moved from Vancouver to Toronto in 2010 I was in a car accident and my injury made performing a challenge so at the age of 29 rolling on 30 I knew it was time to throw in the ‘performing towel’ and go full speed ahead with producing, choreography, and teaching.

So there I was… alone in a new city and not sure where to start. I got a call from my mom and she reminded me I was doing cabaret and shows, she said “why don’t you put together a program for your students and have them be part of your show”. So, “DING”, a light went off! Great idea mom! I’ll do that!!! So there it all began!

It started with 12 girls in Toronto under the “Nuvo-Burlesque Performance & Training Group”

After a year I created the first satellite program in Vancouver

I was building something and it was time to come up with a better name!

So while in class with 25 plus women strutting towards me… “DING” again! They just looked like an ARMY OF SASS!

And that was it; yep that’s the name! The ARMY of SASS was born and there was no turning back!

As of the beginning of 2015, just over 10 years from when I began all of this, we have over 275 registered students across the country with over 100 in Toronto and the rest in our satellite cities Vancouver, Abbotsford, Penticton, Kelowna and Calgary! I am so HAPPY to be able to share my wealth of knowledge about not only running a sustainable and profitable business but also sharing the personal lessons I’ve learned along the way…

For all of my dancers out there wanting to build something of your own but don’t know the steps to get there… I hear you and I feel you! I’ve been there… Please understand that: I know what it’s like to have a dream and not have the funds to do it, to be broke, to be on your own, to grow up in a small town and want more. I’ve lived through tragedy and setbacks, but most importantly I’ve learned to overcome all of them to get to where I am today and that is why I am doing this licensing program with a free education portion. It was built so my AOS team and me can help eliminate the struggle for you to build and achieve your dreams!

I’m here to EDUCATE, CREATE and PAY IT FORWARD to my dance community. It doesn’t matter if 5 or 500 people license this program, what matters to me is to be able to provide a FREE and strong education program to help those that wish to do what I do without the personal, physical, financial, and educational struggle I had endured.

If I can leave you with any form of advise it’s simply this… “There’s a solution to every problem and if there’s a solution… there’s no problem!”

Jennifer Long

General Manager

ARMY of SASS™

Jennifer LongGeneral Manager

Jennifer Long proudly brings over 15 years of diverse management and marketing experience to every project she tackles.

Hailing from the lush hills of Prince Edward Island, Jennifer is pleased to now call Vancouver home. A graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts, Jennifer has been an entertainer since the age of three! Her first job at age 13 was definitely unusual; at a family friend’s suggestion, she auditioned for (and was subsequently hired to play) the leading character at Canadian World Theme Park in Japan. After pursuing a decade-long professional career in the arts, she decided to focus her talents on the behind-the-scenes world of arts management, including contracts with Canadian Idol, Canada Games, Vancouver Circus School, and Army of Sass Canada.

A self-professed “life long learner”, Jennifer holds a variety of post-secondary and continuing studies certifications including Event Management (Holland College), Professional Bookkeeper (Langara College), and is currently working towards her CPA designation in British Columbia.

Ashley Brodeur

General (AOS Location Licensee)

Ashley BrodeurGeneral (AOS Location Licensee)

Born and raised in St. Catharines,Ontario, Ashley has been dancing for most of her life. Competing and performing growing up she also started teaching and assisting at the age of 16 at her mother’s studio.

In 2004 she travelled to Reisa, Germany with the Canadian National Tap Team, Orlando, FL with the Canadian National Jazz Team and then spent two consecutive summers training with Be Discovered at Millennium Dance Complex. In 2006 she was accepted to York University’s BFA Dance Program. After that she found herself in the Commercial Dance Program at George Brown College studying dance, vocal and theory and acting. A founding member of Artist’s In Motion she has since performed in various shows, videos and festivals in Toronto such as The Kuumba and Fringe Festivals.

In 2009 she relocated to Calgary to study with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. She then taught of the School of Decidedly Jazz, various studios and women’s help groups as well as at risk children’s after school programs. Performing regularly with ILLFX Entertainment and the Groove Academy she then decided to return to Toronto.

Credits since have included performing at Culture Shock Washington, D.C., the Dubai Shopping Festival with CMart Worldwide and choreographed by Hollywood Jade, Choreographer’s Ball in pieces by Esie Mensah (Black Stars), Leah Totten (BOSS) and Shameka Blake (AIM) and the 2013 Much Music Video Awards with PSY.

Brodeur has always loved teaching and has chosen to focus on that area of her dance career. In the summer of 2014 she travelled to Spain and received her RYS200 HR Yoga Teacher Training. Upon completion she took a week long teaching residency at Memories Splash Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. A well rounded dancer and teacher in styles of jazz, contemporary, tap, ballet and hip hop.

After training with Carla in the Lieutenant rank of Toronto, launching her own Strut Dance and Body in Niagara, she is excited for her 4th year as Army of Sass City Leader and Instructor for AOS Calgary.

Ashley Brodeur

General (AOS Location Licensee)

Ashley BrodeurGeneral (AOS Location Licensee)

Born and raised in St. Catharines,Ontario, Ashley has been dancing for most of her life. Competing and performing growing up she also started teaching and assisting at the age of 16 at her mother’s studio.

In 2004 she travelled to Reisa, Germany with the Canadian National Tap Team, Orlando, FL with the Canadian National Jazz Team and then spent two consecutive summers training with Be Discovered at Millennium Dance Complex. In 2006 she was accepted to York University’s BFA Dance Program. After that she found herself in the Commercial Dance Program at George Brown College studying dance, vocal and theory and acting. A founding member of Artist’s In Motion she has since performed in various shows, videos and festivals in Toronto such as The Kuumba and Fringe Festivals.

In 2009 she relocated to Calgary to study with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. She then taught of the School of Decidedly Jazz, various studios and women’s help groups as well as at risk children’s after school programs. Performing regularly with ILLFX Entertainment and the Groove Academy she then decided to return to Toronto.

Credits since have included performing at Culture Shock Washington, D.C., the Dubai Shopping Festival with CMart Worldwide and choreographed by Hollywood Jade, Choreographer’s Ball in pieces by Esie Mensah (Black Stars), Leah Totten (BOSS) and Shameka Blake (AIM) and the 2013 Much Music Video Awards with PSY.

Brodeur has always loved teaching and has chosen to focus on that area of her dance career. In the summer of 2014 she travelled to Spain and received her RYS200 HR Yoga Teacher Training. Upon completion she took a week long teaching residency at Memories Splash Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. A well rounded dancer and teacher in styles of jazz, contemporary, tap, ballet and hip hop.

After training with Carla in the Lieutenant rank of Toronto, launching her own Strut Dance and Body in Niagara, she is excited for her 4th year as Army of Sass City Leader and Instructor for AOS Calgary.

Brittany Steel

Sergeant (AOS Teacher)

Brittany SteelSergeant (AOS Teacher)

Brittany Steel, a born and raised Calgarian, began dancing at the age of 10. After years of jazz, ballet and hip hop training, her passion for dance truly elevated. During her final studio years, she was the assistant to the hip hop instructor, assisting with various levels of students. She attributes her success in dance competitions to her love of performing.

Brittany has been with Army Of Sass since the beginning of the Calgary location. She was made Assistant and has been a Corporal level dancer for two full seasons. In addition to the regularly scheduled AOS session performances, she has also performed at the Coors Light Mystery Mansion, 10@10 Showcase, and various fundraising and charity events. Dental Assistant by day and Army of Sass teacher and dancer by night, she feels so blessed and truly honoured to share her choreography, story, and love for Army Of Sass. This July she successfully completed her Army of Sass Teacher Training Certification and is now an amazing part of the Calgary team.

Jane Mitton

Sergeant (AOS Teacher)

Jane MittonSergeant (AOS Teacher)

Jane is a professional jazz dancer with extensive training if all forms of dance including ballet, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, funk, acrobatics, musical theatre, partnering and African. She was also a competitive gymnast for many years making it simple for her to pickup stunting including high falls, unicycles, juggling, trampoline work, ball walking, trapeze and cheerleading.

Since the age of three years old Jane has had a passion for dance and the performing arts. As her experience broadened, she became more interested in the choreography and production side of things working for Calaway Park, Youth Singers of Calgary, Chinese Calgary Pageants, Schanks Athletics, Deerfoot Inn and Casino and Cowboys Casino as well as various dance studios around the province.

After 15 years away from dance and at the age of 42 years old, Jane has strapped on her high heels to take on another new exciting adventure……..heels dance!!

Jane lives in the country outside of the city with her family in a quiet hamlet along with her husband, 11 year old son and two dogs. She works as a Casino Manager for Cowboys Casino and owns her own Event Management company, Plain Jane Events Inc. Other than dance, Jane enjoys snowboarding, hockey, yoga, camping, live music and travelling.

Jane is excited to once again be involved with dance and absolutely love the feelings she experiences during AOS classes and rehearsals. The group of ladies that she has come to meet are all one of a kind with each bringing something unique to the table.

Jennifer Hiscock

Office Admin / Assistant

Jennifer HiscockOffice Admin / Assistant

Jennifer was born and raised in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, where she began dancing at the age of 3. Over the years, she trained at Fusion Dance Studio in St. John’s, with a main focus in tap, modern and hip hop. She was also a member and captain of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Cheerleading Team, competing at National competitions throughout Canada. After moving to Calgary in 2013, Jennifer’s days were filled with building her career as an accountant, but there was something missing in her routine and she was thrilled when she discovered Army of Sass.
Since joining AOS, she has performed in 6 of their Calgary productions and several events within the Calgary community. Jennifer strongly believes in all that AOS stands for and she is so excited and honoured to one of the assistants for Calgary. She can’t wait to continue learning from the wonderful Calgary team and to see what the future holds for AOS Calgary!

Taya Chapman

Office Admin / Assistant

Taya ChapmanOffice Admin / Assistant

Always enjoying new experiences, Taya took up dance in 2014. Starting off partner dancing, she quickly fell in love with Country style then added West Coast Swing and Latin to her resume.
After dancing with partners for 2 years, she was ready for a new challenge. As her training took her to new styles of solo dance, she came across Army of Sass Calgary. Six shows, a closet of costumes and countless friendships later, she can’t wait to see what’s to come!

• FAQ •

Check out these frequently asked questions, or contact us using the form below.

Comfortable, CLEAN, and thick heeled indoor shoes! Doesn’t matter what height of heel, just as long as you are comfortable! Be mindful of stilettos… they may look fabulous for a night out, but wearing them while trying to execute the AOS moves for two hours can be difficult. If you’re first starting out we suggest a good pair of kitten heels or sneaker wedges!

YES! Just one. It is for the costume that you will be performing in. NOTE: We often use many of the same pieces over and over again, and just layer them with different affordable accessories or pieces so you don’t have to spend too much money. If it is your first time we would safely say you will end up spending roughly $80.00-$100.00 on your costume (getting your staple pieces: fishnets, thigh high socks, and bodysuit or dress).